Configuring your computer

Minimum Requirements | Supported browsers for vUWS | Java | Disable pop-up blockers | Allow Cookies

Before logging in, it is recommended that you perform a Browser Check to confirm that your computer is properly configured to use vUWS.

Minimum Requirements

1. PC running Windows XP, Vista or 7 or Macintosh running OSX 10.5 or above
2. Internet connection via broadband (high speed recommended)
3. Supported internet browser (see ‘Supported browsers for vUWS’ below)
4. Microsoft Office or equivalent
5. Adobe Reader
6. Java 1.6.16 and higher

Supported browsers for vUWS

Please check that your combination of operating system and internet browser is ‘Compatible’ or ‘Certified’ for use with vUWS. This list is updated every few months so please check the supported list regularly.

Blackboard’s support of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox differs from the other supported browsers. Chrome and Firefox are following a rapid release strategy and releasing updates every 6 or so weeks. The Firefox Release Channel is the fully tested version by Mozilla and intended to be the most stable. This channel is updated roughly every 6 weeks. For further detail on Firefox, please review the material available at The Mozilla Blog: New Channels for Firefox Rapid Releases . The Chrome Stable Channel is the fully tested version by Google and intended to be the most stable as the name implies. This channel is updated roughly every 2-3 weeks for minor releases and 6 weeks for major releases. For further detail on Chrome, please review the material available at The Chromium Projects .

If you are using the ZoomText (version 10) screen reader on a PC, you must use Internet Explorer® 7 - 9 for it to work with vUWS.

Microsoft® Windows® Operating System

Apple® Mac OS® Operating System

Certified: fully tested and supported.
Compatible: partially tested but should function properly.
Unsupported: either impossible or not tested.

More information on browser minimum requirements is available at Blackboard's Supported Browsers & Operating Systems page.

To find out what version of Internet Explorer you have, click the 'Help' link in Internet Explorer's menu bar and select 'About Internet Explorer' from the drop-down menu.

Security Alerts in Internet Explorer

Refer to the appropriate Reference Sheet below:

Avoiding Security Alerts in vUWS (UWS Computers) [PDF, 114KB]
Avoiding Security Alerts in vUWS (Non-UWS Computers) [PDF, 156KB]

Please note: students will be unable to make these changes on the computers in the UWS Computer Labs and Library.

If you continue to have problems with Internet Explorer, try using Mozilla Firefox. We recommend using Firefox 3.6, which can be downloaded for free .

IE Trusted Site

To ensure privacy of information, vUWS is connected to the Internet through a secure ‘SSL’ connection. Because of this, at times you may receive a message similar to that shown below when in vUWS.

To prevent these warning messages from appearing, follow the instructions outlined in the Configuring your computer to use with vUWS reference sheet to properly configure your Internet browser.

Java

If the Browser Check identifies that your Java is not suitable, please use the appropriate Reference Sheet below to install the correct version:

Using a UWS Computer
Using a non-UWS Computer

Enable Java

Some features in vUWS, such as the Collaboration (Chat, Virtual Classroom), require Java to be enabled on your Internet browser. In most Internet browsers Java is enabled by default, however if it is not enabled, you can enable it in the browser settings. Please view your Internet browser’s Help file for information on how to enable Java.

Java Certificate

After logging in to vUWS, you will be prompted to accept a Java Security Certificate. You must click on the 'Run' button and add a tick in the box to the left of 'Always allow content from this publisher' to ensure that vUWS functionality using Java will work properly in your browser.

Enable JavaScript

JavaScript is enabled by default on all supported browsers. However, if you encounter problems with vUWS please check your browser settings to make sure that JavaScript is enabled.

Disable pop-up blockers

Pop-up or ad-blocking functions are included in some anti-virus, Internet security, personal firewalls and Internet browser programs. Pop-up blocker applications work in the background while you browse the Internet. When they detect a pop-up window (for example an unwanted advertisement), they automatically close the window. This can prevent vUWS from performing properly as some of the features open in a new window.

While using vUWS, if you are unable to view links to files, Discussion postings, Mail and Quiz windows, then you may need to disable the pop-up blocking feature on your system. If you do not want to completely disable your pop-up blocking, you can add the URL ‘vuws.uws.edu.au’ in the application’s Trusted Sites area.

Pop-up blocking software may be included in firewalls, browsers, companion bars (such as Google toolbar, Yahoo toolbar, MSN toolbar etc) and Internet security applications. If you have more than one pop-up blocking application on your computer, you will need to disable this feature on each.

Allow Cookies

Cookies are short pieces of data used by web servers to help identify users when logging into areas on the Internet, including vUWS. Normally browsers are set to allow cookies.

If you can't log in to vUWS, and you DO NOT receive an ‘Incorrect vUWS ID or Password’ message, it may be that your browser is not accepting cookies. Please view your Internet browser’s Help file for information on how to allow it to accept cookies.

Print a brief guide to Configuring your computer to use with vUWS .